Slidable fiber optic connection module with cable slack management

Abstract

A fiber optic telecommunications device includes a frame and a fiber optic module including a rack mount portion, a center portion, and a main housing portion. The rack mount portion is stationarily coupled to the frame, the center portion is slidably coupled to the rack mount portion along a sliding direction, and the main housing portion is slidably coupled to the center portion along the sliding direction. The main housing portion of the fiber optic module includes fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables to be routed through the frame. The center portion of the fiber optic module includes a radius limiter for guiding cables between the main housing portion and the frame, the center portion also including a latch for unlatching the center portion for slidable movement. Slidable movement of the center portion with respect to the rack mount portion moves the main housing portion with respect to the frame along the sliding direction.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fiber optic module comprising:
 a rack mount member configured for mounting the fiber optic module to a telecommunications fixture; 
 a center member slidably coupled to the rack mount member along a sliding direction; and 
 a main frame member slidably coupled to the center member along the sliding direction, the main frame member including fiber optic connection locations for connecting cables to be routed through the module; 
 wherein the center member of the fiber optic module includes a radius limiter for guiding cables between the main frame member and the rack mount member, the center member also including a latch for unlatching the center member for slidable movement; 
 wherein slidable movement of the center member with respect to the rack mount member moves the main frame member with respect to the rack mount member along the sliding direction, wherein when the center member is moved with respect to the rack mount member, the center member is configured to move at half the linear speed of the main frame member with respect to the rack mount member. 
 
     
     
       2. A fiber optic module according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection locations are defined by fiber optic adapters. 
     
     
       3. A fiber optic module according to  claim 2 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are LC-format adapters. 
     
     
       4. A fiber optic module according to  claim 2 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are mounted to the main frame member of the fiber optic module with a snap-fit interlock. 
     
     
       5. A fiber optic module according to  claim 2 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are provided as part of a fiber optic cassette that is configured to relay an incoming signal to an outgoing signal via fiber optic cables within the cassette. 
     
     
       6. A fiber optic module according to  claim 5 , wherein the fiber optic adapters are snap-fit to the fiber optic cassette. 
     
     
       7. A fiber optic module according to  claim 5 , wherein the fiber optic cables are terminated with fiber optic connectors on at least one of the ends thereof. 
     
     
       8. A fiber optic module according to  claim 7 , wherein the fiber optic connectors mate with one side of the fiber optic adapters within the interior of the cassette.